Introduction........................................................................................ 3

Generative AI and Technology..........................................................4

Writing.................................................................................................5

Cover Letter..........................................................................................6

Comets to the Core Essay.....................................................................8

Virtual Exchange................................................................................ 12

Resume............................................................................................... 13

Dream Resume................................................................................... 14

Writing Conclusion.............................................................................15

Oral & Visual Communication....................................................... 16

LinkedIn............................................................................................. 17

Presentation........................................................................................ 18

Slides.................................................................................................. 19

Customer Service............................................................................... 20

Teaching Experience.......................................................................... 21

AI and Tech........................................................................................ 22

Textbook Pilot Evaluation.................................................................. 23

Future Growth & Development...................................................... 24

Feedback and Criticism...................................................................... 25

Lab Reflection.................................................................................... 26

Indicator of Growth............................................................................ 27

Conclusion.........................................................................................29

Introduction

About Me

Hello! I am Isabella Rom and I am a finance major at

The University of Texas at Dallas. I was exposed to

leadership responsibilities early on, which helped me

build my communication, organization, and

problem-solving skills. I am a very detail-oriented,

motivated individual that prioritizes making

data-driven conclusions, improving skills, and

raising the standard with every achievement.

Experience

Throughout my educational career, I sought out

various opportunities to improve my skills, and

network with people. I am a member of the

Professional Program in Finance (PPF9), the Vice President of the Financial Leadership

Association, and a finalist in the 2025 Consulting Case Competition. In the summer of 2025, I

interned at Carbo Ceramics on the FP&A team, where I was tasked with a project to review the

supply chain process and inefficiencies in production, and present my findings and

recommendations to c-suite executives. This was an important role for me as it taught me how to

ask critical questions, make data-driven conclusions, and learn to communicate with different

levels of people.

How I Chose My Path

In high school, I learned about stock trading through my father and friends. I wanted to try it

myself and I began researching and learning different ways to make investment decisions. I’m

glad I went through with it because it is an activity that a lot of people that age were scared to

engage in. Overall, I can say I learned a completely new way of thinking than I had learned in

school, because this time there were actual risks.

After a few months of trading and researching, I was convinced that this was what I wanted to

do. While I’ve decided to study topics outside of stock trading, I still plan to be involved with

companies' finances and learn how to create successful businesses. A specific desire that drove

me to my decision to study finance is my interest in learning how people in other countries work

and what the work environments are like. I seek to travel the world, learn the most optimal way

of viewing business from experienced professionals, and find what is successful for different

companies.

Conclusion

Overall, my skills in communication and organization have been greatly improving ever since

I’ve involved myself in extracurriculars. My goal is to continue to branch out and test my skills

in different fields so I can advance throughout my career.

Generative AI and Technology

Relation to Finance

In the field of finance, artificial intelligence is a handy tool that has expanded the ways in which

businesses operate compared to the past. From automatic trading to risk management and

customer service, AI has made results more accurate and quick to access.

The automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks is one of the biggest advantages of AI.

These new algorithms can analyze vast datasets and calculate complex problems at incredible

speeds, reducing human error and saving professionals valuable time to complete other tasks. AI

also leads to cost savings if the data has a low chance of being incorrect.

Another significant contribution of AI to the business field is its ability to analyze customer data.

AI has opened new doors in the field of banking, allowing for services like personalized

investment advice. Additionally, companies can gain better intel on their audience as a whole

because large samples are analyzed in a short amount of time. These contributions are important

because business executives can then use this information to make better decisions to drive their

companies forward.

My Future With AI

By the time I’m in a professional job, AI will be much more prominent in the business world

compared to now. The foreseeable opportunities of artificial intelligence will allow people in my

generation to achieve and research further into advanced analytics and business management. In

the future, I see myself and other students taking classes specifically targeted toward learning the

functions of AI and utilizing it effectively. Additionally, the jobs that are being replaced with

robots will be substituted by AI research and development. The field of computer science has

expanded greatly in the last few years due to the advancements of AI.

With that said, AI doesn’t come without its flaws, though. While it’s known for its accuracy,

that’s not the case 100% of the time. We can’t be too reliant on AI just yet because it still needs

improving. AI also can’t be trusted with its decision-making. It is not able to contextualize

situations to make the most optimal decisions, and leaving those AI-made decisions without

review from a human can cause problems in a business setting.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AI is still in the beta stage and will continue to be updated as we learn how to

improve it. Who knows how much power humans are willing to give AI?

Writing

In my writing, I keep in mind how the context affects the tone in which I convey the message I

desire. A notable skill of mine is the ability to show a significant difference between casual

writing and professional writing. Growing up, my parents wanted to give me as much experience

meeting and conversing with adults to develop the right type of language. I don’t get nervous

when writing and addressing business associates because I am confident in my ability to remain

professional.

High school claims to “prepare students for college,” however, it surprises me how different the

writing styles are in high school and college. I took a couple of dual credit classes in high school,

and I felt that I learned and improved my writing more in one semester than in all the other years

in high school. College writing has a less structured format and allows for more creative

freedom.

On the other hand, one aspect of my writing that I would like to improve on is adding meaning

and depth to my words. Although I am able to get my main message to reach the audience, I

have trouble giving my words the power and weight behind them for people to remember them

and understand them. To achieve this, I often review the work of other successful writers and

mimic their writing style and word choice until I am able to do it myself smoothly.

Cover Letter

About the Job

JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Global Finance & Business Management Summer Analyst Program

The Global Finance & Business Management Analyst Program (GF&BM) Insights Programs are

virtual events with business-specific overviews and networking, followed by interviews.

Participants will be provided with an introduction to financial services and the firm. They will be

exposed to our senior leaders and have an opportunity to learn about our businesses, build

professional development skills, and gain insight into how their diverse backgrounds and

perspectives as financial services professionals might positively impact the future of people’s

lives, the firm, and our industry.

We are looking for highly motivated individuals who have a passion for analysis that will help

drive strategic business decisions.

Key skills and interests include:

* Preferred minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale

* Pursuing a B.A., B.S., or 5th year M.A. or M.S., with an expected graduation date between

December 2024 and June 2025

* Ability to thrive in a dynamic and collaborative work environment

* Excellent leadership, interpersonal and problem-solving skills

* A well-rounded academic background with an interest in financial management, data

analysis, and accounting

* Excel, PowerPoint, and Word proficiency

* Relevant internship experience and leadership in school or community organizations

Global Finance & Business Management Summer Analyst Program

Dear Mr. Marsh,

My name is Isabella Rom, and I am currently a freshman at the University of Texas at Dallas,

majoring in Finance.

I am writing to express my interest in the Summer 2024 Global Finance and Business

Management Intern position at Chase Bank. I spoke with one of your company representatives,

Hugo Rodriguez, who directed me to your contact for my interest in this program. When I heard

about this position, I felt that my professional experience and skills in adapting to diverse

environments and in teamwork, along with my various certifications, make me a worthy

candidate.

Throughout my internship with the FP&A team of a manufacturing company, I was entrusted

with a strategic project to map and analyze the entire supply chain from planning through

customer delivery. I conducted interviews across four production plants, identified inefficiencies

in inventory tracking, and developed recommendations for process improvements—all of which

I presented to senior leadership, including the CEO. I have also joined multiple groups related to

finance, like the Professional Program in Finance and the Financial Leadership Association, and

taken on leadership roles. Through coursework in Financial Modeling, Managerial/ Financial

Accounting, and Business Finance, I’ve developed a strong understanding of financial reporting

and forecasting. I recently applied these skills in a consulting case competition, where my team

and I forecasted new market growth using a comprehensive three-statement model.

Your company’s dedication and honesty to its clients creates an environment that I would love to

engage in and learn from. I have attached my resume to this email, and I would be thrilled to

meet you for an interview. Thank you for considering my application, and feel free to contact me

at isabella.rom@utdallas.edu.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Isabella Rom

isabella.rom@utdallas.edu

281-248-3596

The University of Texas at Dallas

Comets to the Core Essay

Future for Students and AI

With the spread of technology and artificial intelligence throughout the world, many

people wonder if society will stand a chance once AI has reached its full potential. AI has the

capacity to advance society to a level where flying cars and space travel are regular day

occurrences- things people only dreamed about. However, those advancements don’t come

without costs, and preparing humans (especially students) for a world with fully integrated AI

poses a challenge. Humans need to be educated on the things AI is and is not capable of and need

to be prepared to master the skills not achievable by computers. In terms of education, AI is most

relevant when it comes to self learning, its accuracy, and the long lasting effects it has on

students.

First, what can AI do? In a world that is ever so changing, the internet allows for

“self-directed learning” (Dede), which is a critical tool for modern students. The internet has

many options for learning that come at no cost at all, allowing students access to almost

everything there is to know about the world. A recent addition to education that has taken the

world by storm is bots like Chat GPT. Chatbots are great tools for students because they are

available 24/7, can give detailed explanations, and have all the cultivated information given to

them by billions of people around the world. There are also other apps that many students are

familiar with, like Photomath and Mathway that provide in-depth problem solving. Youtube or

Khan Academy are also platforms with videos from actual teachers that allow students to learn

for free and in some cases, better than in the classroom.

Throughout history, entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk have resorted to AI for

their professional knowledge. They have been able to achieve great things as college dropouts

and learning all they need from the internet. This puts into question the relevancy of schools, as

they can be seen to be a waste with their outdated education systems and highly variable quality

of education. In the future, there will be an increasing number of students who choose to learn

from the internet than in schools since it is cheaper and good quality. If AI provides the same, if

not better, education than schools and is free, why don’t more people just drop out of school?

The reality is that the business world has not yet accepted AI entirely, and employers who see a

degree trust those applicants more simply because it shows effort and “proper” education. The

outlines of having a “proper” education have kept the reputability of AI’s ability to teach below

that of a certified teacher. In the end, it all comes down to what a person decides to do with their

education that determines their success in other people’s eyes.

On the other hand, AI programs are not perfect quite yet. A lot of apps and software that

use AI for educational purposes are usually small companies without much funding or

professional programmers. As previously mentioned, Photomath and Mathway are amongst the

most popular AI math assistants, however Mathway requires a subscription and Photomath is not

as accurate in some instances. Tools like these are rarely updated and because the education is

not consistent throughout the United States, neither are the math solutions. Another program that

struggles with accuracy is Grammarly. As widely used as it is, I have personally encountered

times where Grammerly’s suggestions are simply incorrect. Finally, another AI tool that has

actually been used in a course at UT Dallas is Quinccia. This website provides practice

interviews conducted by AI, and resume screening. It is the first website of its kind I have

encountered, however myself and some other students agree that this program's accuracy and

grading of student’s resumes and interviews are questionable. Until these AI programs are

completely updated, students will never be able to rely on fully AI-taught education.

So how will AI affect students in the future? Students will see an increase in AI when it

comes to job interviews or even grading papers. As most people know, Chat GPT has become a

“valuable cheating tool” in education (Leffer). This puts the actual knowledge of students into

question, and whether students are actually learning or not. From the students perspective, they

will need to learn how to act a certain way that will prevent a bot from misinterpreting

communication, or even write a certain way that allows AI recognize what’s correct. AI isn’t

human, and it doesn’t know what’s human-like and what are alternatives for certain actions. The

best way to put it is in order to understand AI, “we need to change what we're educating people

for because if you educate people for what AI does well, you're just preparing them to lose to

AI,” states Chris Dene.

Overall, generative AI has good and bad parts to it, but how we use AI will dictate

whether we as humans are ready for it. For students, it is important to recognize AI’s roles in

self-learning, accuracy, and its long lasting effects on students.

References

Anderson, J. (2023, February 9). Educating in a World of Artificial Intelligence: Chris

Dede discusses how education can evolve to work with — rather than fight

against — Artificial Intelligence. Https://www.gse.Harvard.edu/. Retrieved

September 1, 2023, from

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/23/02/educating-world-artificial-intellig

ence

Gates, B. (2023, July 11). The risks of AI are real but manageable.

Https://www.GatesNotes.com/. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from

https://www.gatesnotes.com/The-risks-of-AI-are-real-but-manageable

Leffer, L. (2023, August 25). ChatGPT Can Get Good Grades. What Should

Educators Do about It?: AI can generate clear, concise text—But people still need

to learn how to write. ScientificAmerican.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023,

from

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chatgpt-can-get-good-grades-what-sho

uld-educators-do-about-it/

Virtual Exchange

Introduction

At UT Dallas, I had the opportunity to participate in a virtual exchange project. This project

includes a select few students who meet online with students in France who are working

professionally and attending school simultaneously.

Meeting Summaries

In the first meeting, we talked about the structural differences between our school and their

specialized college in France and compared our daily activities, and I learned that European

schools tend to focus more on hands-on experience when it comes to learning. They also told us

about their unique work-school system, where they spend a month at university and a month at a

job in their field, as opposed to college students here doing internships separately from school.

Additionally, the topic of AI came up and how it applies to school and work. Turns out that the

US is one of the few places where AI is commonly used for anything other than data analytics,

along with some countries in Asia. They were surprised and slightly scared to learn that we had

already begun experimenting with AI interviews and resume screenings, saying it is something

not at all seen in France.

Conclusion

This experience was a chance to learn how foreign schooling and jobs work compared to the US.

Since I seek a career that allows me to travel and work outside the US, I value the information I

learned from them and the connections I now have with people on the other side of the world.

Resume

This version of my resume is my most current one. I have joined multiple organizations that add

to my resume, participated in a competition, and had an internship.

Dream Resume

This is a version of my resume that I want to achieve by my senior year of college. By then, I

plan to have more relevant courses and training associated with my major, along with multiple

internships and competitions.

Writing Conclusion

Throughout college, I have learned how to integrate AI into my writing in a proper way, utilizing

it for planning and coming up with ideas. My writing assignments were less stressful because I

was able to get ideas and topics to write about, creating a starting place for my brainstorming. I

also like AI for its grammatical editing because it has helped me learn some bad habits in my

writing that I needed to be made aware of, as well as helping me change my diction to achieve

my desired tone. I’ve had a good experience with AI overall, and I plan to continue to use it as a

tool to better myself in school and in the professional world.

Oral & Visual Communication

My Growth in Oral Communication

My experience as a speaker varies between different contexts. I’ve held a couple of leadership

positions in high school, which showed me how my work and effort directly affected the team's

outcome. I had to think about the ways in which I could speak to constructively criticize team

members, but also assert a sense of authority. I learned to find a balance between being viewed

as a friendly educator and a respected figure. I feel comfortable speaking to large crowds and

taking on leadership positions because I have heard from peers and superiors that I have a knack

for leading and public speaking.

One thing I’ve been able to improve through my internship was how to ask the right questions.

My project required me to use very delicate language towards senior leadership to tackle

inefficiencies the company was facing. I was mentored on how to formulate these questions not

only to be respectful, but to gather truthful data in the process.

In retrospect, my public speaking experience has taught me the importance of balance. Each type

of context has balance, whether talking to a stranger, an adult, or being a team leader. Being a

good speaker means you are able to put meaning behind your words and influence people to act

in a specific way.

My Growth in Visual Communication

In terms of my Visual Communication experience, the only way I saw improvement in myself

and my presentations was through practice. I’ve learned how to integrate gestures in my

speeches and presentations, and based on audience feedback, my presentations were perceived to

be professional and educational. I believe the final step to improving my visual communication

is the type of people I communicate with, and I will reach that desired audience once I get a

professional job,

Presentation

Inspiration

The biggest thing I noticed during the first presentation project in my Business Communications

class was the skill disparity. Throughout high school, I was surrounded by outstanding speakers

and had many chances to apply my public speaking skills.

Preparing

As I prepared for the presentation, I held myself to high standards because that is what I had

been used to, and I can admit I also held high standards for my teammates. I don’t hold anything

against my teammates for how they performed, but I did humble myself a little bit when I

realized the reality of the situation. As a group, we attempted to help each other prepare and offer

advice; however, due to constraints and our unfamiliarity with each other, our desire for

independence directly affected our group’s results.

Goals for the Future

I had the impression I had the most public speaking experience out of the rest of my group

members, so in the future, I want to prioritize the group's success over my own because it can

help me improve myself by learning from other people.

Slides

These slides showcase two different presentations I have done this year. This first slide was part

of a presentation completed within a 20-minute time frame, and at first glance, it looks

overloaded with words.

Because we needed more

time to prepare, more

information had to be

added to the slides to

help us present without

forgetting what we

would discuss.

On the other hand, this slide is an example of a presentation that my group prepared within a

two-week window. Compared to the first one, sentences have been cut down and contain the

keywords and phrases we

want the reader to pay

attention to. The addition of

pictures, colored text, and a

variety of text sizes makes it

easy to recognize what the

main topics are. This is the

most effective version of

what a presentation visual

should look like. If the

subject of a presentation

revolves around data analysis,

graphs and visual research are

appropriate to add to convince and inform the audience and be a more credible speaker.

Customer Service

Introduction

Getting my first job was what introduced me to the professional world. I hadn’t had much

experience talking to adults before, so this was a good way for me to learn quickly by being

thrown into a customer service position. I looked forward to working at BMW because it aligned

with my interest in cars, which kept me enthusiastic about going to work.

What I Gained

Working in the service industry was the next step in building my communication skills. Since it

was my first time, I observed my coworkers and how they approached customers. I saw what

worked and what didn’t and slowly became more confident in my communication skills.

Unfortunately, the people on my team were not very cooperative, so I also got an insight into

how problems were dealt with. After a few weeks of practice, my performance was much

smoother, and I never doubted myself when faced with obstacles. Customers often felt satisfied

when I helped them, and my coworkers also complimented me on my unique communication

style.

Another skill I developed at my first job is organization. With the everyday fluctuation in

demand and customer flow, learning to operate smoothly in overloaded situations carries over

into many other areas. I’ve found myself better managing my time in school for studying and

other activities.

Teaching Experience

Being in a leadership position was the foundation for building my communication skills. Since it

came before my first job, leading a group in both high school and a martial arts school played a

significant role in my public speaking experience. I had always sought a leadership position,

which motivated me to work harder in that field. I spent more time and effort perfecting myself

and learning every detail so I could one day train just as successful students.

Working with various ages required me to learn how to maintain patience with younger people

and respect with adults. As a leader and teacher, my student’s success directly linked my effort

with their performance, and the last thing I wanted was to be called a bad example. When I

wasn’t seeing the desired results, I sought advice from more experienced leaders and worked

with being transparent with students.

AI and Tech

Learning to Use AI

My first time using AI was actually at the start of this Business Communication class. In high

school, there were a lot of restrictions and AI detection software, so I didn’t have the opportunity

to utilize it as much as I had wanted to. Since the beginning of my college experience, I noticed

how much more accepting professors are towards AI and how much students use it, such as

ChatGPT. If it hadn’t been for my Business Communication professor encouraging the use of AI

for particular assignments, I wouldn’t have opened up to it.

I am an ethical person, and I don’t feel satisfied copying AI sources for studies. However, I have

used ChatGPT to brainstorm possible essay topics and solve math questions. ChatGPT does a

better job, in my opinion, in expressing the step-by-step process of math problems compared to

pre-existing apps like Mathway or Photomath. Some of these “specialized math apps and

explanations” also require subscriptions.

Moving Forward

So far, I’ve found AI to be very convenient and mostly accurate for the purposes of my current

work. In terms of the finance field, AI is frequently used to calculate business-related data, which

allows professionals to apply that data to strategic planning.

Textbook Pilot Evaluation

This textbook has been a beneficial addition to this course as it has shown statistical

improvements in students' grades and readiness for tests; however, I’d like to go in-depth about

the content of the textbook. While the textbook is informative, I often found the chapters to be

very long and wordy. I like how the keywords are bolded and explained throughout; however, I

feel students would get a better grasp of the concepts if the central topic of each chapter were

more easily identifiable.

Finally, I believe the students would learn better with shorter chapter quizzes. I feel 20-30

questions are appropriate, but some quizzes were over 50 concepts, which is a minimum of 100

questions. The abundance of the material makes studying the quizzes later more of a hassle than

a review.

Future Growth & Development

My Goals

In general, during my time at The University of Texas at Dallas, I’ve been focusing on things

that will prepare me for my career. I’ve put aside most things I want to do because they’re not

beneficial to my major, and I strive to be the best at my job when I’m older.

Organizations

Some organizations I’ve involved myself in are the Professional Program in Finance and the

Financial Leadership Association, where I’ve been able to build my network and improve my

technical skills. I’ve also attended a few information sessions by big-name companies to learn

about their internship programs.

Conclusion

Transitioning to college has been the real test of my time-management skills because of how

different it is from any previous chapters of my life. I’ve been experimenting with different ways

to balance studying and things I want to do.

Feedback and Criticism

Lab Reflection

I found the certifications in Microsoft software to be the most beneficial asset this course offers.

The LinkedIn courses offer detailed explanations and give students other optional training to

complete. It also introduced the AI platform, Quinccia, which helped me find ways to improve

my resume.

Another one of the most beneficial assignments is the program research. I didn’t even know

JSOM offered some of those programs, and some of the lingering questions I had were answered

in that research, like the foreign exchange module. Finally, when it came time to register for

classes, it did offer a tutorial that prevented students from bombarding advisors with emails.

I think this lab is overall beneficial for students as it allows students to learn more about UTD by

getting involved and growing as professionals. I do wish the course was a little better organized

in eLearning as it was hard to find the location of some assignments or the assignments with

multiple parts were easily missed.

Indicator of Growth

Old Resume

This is the very first resume I made years ago for a school project that has been updated with

some current details before I made a new one from scratch this semester. Some of its biggest

flaws lie in the format– which is not up to standard for the new AI technology companies use to

screen resumes. Additionally, it lacks detailed explanations of my roles in the organizations I was

a part of. Currently, many of these organizations are not relevant because they were done in high

school and are not associated with my major, which is something many students my age are

self-conscious about.

New Resume

This is the most recent version of my resume, which I am much more proud of. This resume is

formatted for the AI screening tool, which would have my previous example instantly cut from

the hiring pool. Each organization and job experience also has more detailed explanations about

the roles I held and highlights my key skills.

Conclusion

Long-Term Goals

Looking to the future, I want to be more fluid in my business language and communicate in

professional settings like interviews in general. Currently, I still have to stop and think about my

words and make sure what I say makes sense. I look forward to my first internship because it’ll

be my first look into what I might be doing for the rest of my life. My dream is to reach some

sort of management position in a big banking or consulting company. I would love a job that

allows me to travel and learn how other people think to expand my knowledge. This dream is

what motivates me to work to excel in my field. I am confident that when I get good at my job, I

am more than capable of teaching and managing a team. Ultimately, I want to create an

environment where people won’t hate waking up for work in the morning but at least seem a

little bit optimistic, like another day of seeing friends.

AI in Finance

I think the finance industry already has a lot of AI incorporated into it, so I don’t think it’ll make

that big of a difference. The only thing worrying me is the fact that AI is capable of taking over

human jobs, but I think there will always be some human need, even when AI is around.